People don’t tend to notice their lows in the water, so be sure to be careful about it.

That’s what my trainer said two days after I was diagnosed with diabetes. But usually I go high instead of low while exercising. And then it all began to change.

The first time I noticed that I was low while swimming wasn’t a result of swimming. I was low before swim team and wouldn’t come up. Even during dinner I wouldn’t come up. First I had a juice before dinner. Then I ate dinner. Then I had some smarties. Then I had another juice. Then I started to swim during practice. I checked again and I was 80. So I had another juice. And then, finally, I was fine. But it took maybe forty five minutes.

The next morning we biked to swim team. After swimming my mom made me test even though I felt fine. And I was 56. My mom called my dad and he came and picked me up. Luckily I had some smarties with me. When I got into the car I overheard my mom telling my dad that at the end I was only going fast enough to stay afloat. And that’s why she made me test.

In the next couple of practices I was fine. But one morning after practice my brother and sister convinced my dad to go get doughnuts afterwords at Safeway. When we got to Safeway, we were holding my doughnuts and in line to pay when I tested my blood sugar. I was 45. It was sort of a funny scene, we were paying and I was devouring my doughnut. “Three doughnuts,” my dad said. He looked over at me. “Well, two doughnuts, actually. Her doughnuts on her face. I meant that the crumbs were on her face. Do I know you?” The cashier laughed, and we payed for three doughnuts and left.

At my next swim meat I was 200 after my first event. So I corrected. After my fourth event I was 460. After my fifth I was 450. So I guess you go high at swim meets.

I’m just putting this out there to say that diabetics should watch their blood sugar in the water. Because if you don’t, some nasty situations could come up.

Yes, I can use my cell phone in school. Now leave me alone.

Everyone is sitting at their desks eagerly glancing at the clock. Finally the bell wrings. Lunchtime!

Before going to lunch my friends and I stop to chat with Mr. Glatthar, the writing teacher.
I have my pump out so I can get some insulin in before I eat. Mr. Glatthar noticed me fiddling around and raised his eyebrows. “I never thought that I would have to say this to you, Claire,” He says, “but is that your cell phone?”
“No,” I said, blushing slightly. “Insulin pump. I’m diabetic, remember?”
“Oh yeah. Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “It happens all the time.”

And that’s the truth. Diabetic Pumpers are constantly called out on the fact that their pump looks like a cell phone. It’s either that or they point at your waist and say, “What’s that?”
What do you say to people like that? My usual answer is, “Oh, it’s an insulin pump. I’m a diabetic.” At this response I’ve found that most people just nod their heads wisely even though they really have no idea. To get rid of this feeling sometimes I’ll just tell everyone that my pump’s my cell phone. No hassle, no questions asked. Problem solved. Well, not quite.

On one occasion, I was at a summer class learning how to make ice cream. One girl saw my pump and asked, “Is that your cell phone?” I was surprised as I was an early pumper, and responded, “No.” Then I realized, Oh no, now I’m going to have to tell her what it is. Great. So I told her it was my pager (I couldn’t think of anything better). She was very amazed.

But I think a big question that we all ask is why do we want to make sure that nobody knows that you’re a diabetic and carry a cell phone? Does it really matter if anyone knows? And if so, why?

If you’re like me, it’s a gut feeling. I don’t know why I don’t feel comfortable with everyone knowing I’m a diabetic. I’m just not. Maybe I’m scared that I’ll become the weirdo.

But becoming the weirdo isn’t likely. When I first got diagnosed with diabetes I told my whole class all about it. I still have many of them in my class and even though they don’t completely get it, I don’t get looked at any differently.

And because of that, I think that its a great idea to tell your every day acquaintances about your diabetes. It’ll turn out fine.

But for the simple question of whether you have a cell phone or pump, I’m fine with saying cell phone.